Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in urban Lake Phewa, Nepal: the first report on abundance and composition in surface water of lake in different seasons

Surface water from Lake Phewa, Nepal's second-largest lake, was analyzed for microplastics across seasons in the first such study from Nepal, finding plastics present in all samples with concentrations varying seasonally. The results establish a baseline for freshwater microplastic monitoring in a South Asian developing country context and raise concerns about impacts on a lake important for tourism and local livelihoods.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Urban Lake Phewa, Nepal: The First Report on Abundance and Composition in Surface Water of Lake in Different Seasons

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastics in Lake Phewa, a major freshwater lake in Nepal, finding plastic particles in surface water across all seasons. Fiber microplastics were most abundant, consistent with laundry and textile sources. This study provides baseline data for microplastic monitoring in Nepal, where freshwater microplastic research has been largely absent.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics from Nepal’s Second Largest Lake

Researchers conducted the first microplastic survey of Phewa Lake in Nepal, finding an average of 55–122.5 microplastic items per kilogram of sediment, with fiber shapes and polypropylene polymers dominating, and highest concentrations near densely populated shorelines.

2022 Water Air & Soil Pollution 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in lakeshore sediments: the first report on abundance and composition of Phewa Lake, Nepal

The first study of microplastic pollution in Phewa Lake sediments in Nepal found an average abundance of 100.5 items per kg dry weight, with fibres dominating at 78% and polypropylene as the main polymer, establishing a baseline for freshwater microplastic research in the country.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution and characteristics of microplastics and associated contaminants from mid-altitude lake in NW Himalaya

Researchers documented microplastic contamination and associated phthalate esters in Rewalsar Lake in the Northwest Himalayas, demonstrating that even remote mid-altitude freshwater lakes are significantly affected by microplastic pollution.

2023 Chemosphere 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Urban Natural Lakes of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Researchers studied microplastic pollution in the surface waters of two urban natural lakes in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Using stereomicroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy, they characterized the abundance, types, and polymer composition of microplastics, finding notable contamination levels that highlight the need for monitoring microplastic pollution in urban freshwater systems in developing regions.

2026 Environmental Quality Management
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in the pristine waters of Tilicho Lake, Nepal: A groundbreaking study in the high-altitude himalayas

Researchers conducted a first-of-its-kind study documenting microplastic contamination in Tilicho Lake, Nepal, one of the world's highest-altitude freshwater lakes, highlighting the penetration of plastic pollution into remote alpine environments.

2025 iScience
Article Tier 2

Identification, characterization, and quantification of microplastics in water and sediments of high-altitude Himalayan Dal Lake

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics in both the water and bottom sediments of Dal Lake, a high-altitude lake in the Himalayas. This discovery is concerning because it shows plastic pollution has reached even remote mountain areas, and these microscopic plastic pieces can enter our food chain through fish and drinking water. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination is more widespread than previously thought, potentially affecting water sources that communities depend on for drinking and fishing.

2026 Environmental Research Water
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake, western Himalaya, India

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics across abiotic and biotic compartments of Manasbal Lake in the western Himalayas, finding that MPs are pervasive even in remote mountain catchments and presenting risk assessment data for this understudied high-altitude freshwater ecosystem.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake, western Himalaya, India

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics across abiotic and biotic compartments of Manasbal Lake in the western Himalayas, finding that MPs are pervasive even in remote mountain catchments and presenting risk assessment data for this understudied high-altitude freshwater ecosystem.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

First insights into plastic and microplastic occurrence in biotic and abiotic compartments, and snow from a high-mountain lake (Carnic Alps)

This study provided first data on plastic and microplastic occurrence in both biotic and abiotic samples from high-mountain lakes on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most remote freshwater ecosystems on Earth. Plastics larger than 5 mm and microplastics were found in lake water and biota, demonstrating that even pristine high-altitude freshwater systems are not free from plastic contamination.

2020 Chemosphere 132 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of land use land cover on microplastic accumulation in high-altitude freshwater lakes of the central Himalayas

Researchers investigated the spatial distribution of microplastics in the surface water of three high-altitude lakes in the Kumaun region of the central Himalayas — Nainital, Garudtal, and Bhimtal — and examined the influence of land use and land cover (LULC) at the catchment scale on microplastic accumulation. The study found that lakes with greater proportions of built-up and agricultural land in their catchments had higher microplastic concentrations, demonstrating that LULC is a key driver of microplastic loading in remote mountain lakes.

2025 Scientific Reports
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics and phthalate esters from a freshwater lake system in Lesser Himalayas

Researchers surveyed a freshwater lake system in the Indian Himalayas and found microplastics in all water and sediment samples, with concentrations highest near areas of human activity. They also detected phthalate esters, chemical additives commonly found in plastics, at levels that correlated with microplastic abundance. The study provides the first evidence of significant microplastic and associated chemical contamination in this relatively remote Himalayan freshwater ecosystem.

2021 Chemosphere 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of Microplastic Contamination in Sapta-Gandaki River System, Nepal

This study documented the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in Nepal's Sapta-Gandaki River — the country's second largest river — from its Himalayan headwaters to the lowland plains. The research addresses a significant gap in data quality for Himalayan transboundary rivers and shows that microplastic contamination reaches even remote high-altitude freshwater systems.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracing microplastic footprints in pristine ecosystems: Insights and implications of Parsons Valley and Sandynulla Lakes, Western Ghats

Researchers conducted the first microplastic assessment of surface waters in Parsons Valley Lake and Sandynulla Lake in the Western Ghats, India, collecting 40 samples and identifying polyethylene and nylon as the dominant plastic types. Pollution levels were highest near tourist and waste disposal areas, and built-up area expansion between 2017 and 2024 was identified as a key driver of microplastic input into these pristine ecosystems.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the himalayan glaciers: a looming environmental threat

This review assessed microplastic contamination detected in Himalayan glaciers, highlighting the threat these particles pose to a critical freshwater source. The presence of microplastics in such remote, high-altitude ecosystems underscores how far airborne and atmospheric transport can carry pollution.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic assessment in remote and high mountain lakes of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in eight remote, high-altitude lakes in the mountains of northern Pakistan, finding plastic particles in both water and sediment at all locations. Despite the lakes being far from major population centers, microplastics were present at measurable levels, likely transported by wind and water from lower elevations. The contamination of these pristine mountain lakes is concerning because they serve as water sources for local communities.

2024 Chemosphere 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastics in the sandynulla lake and parson valley lake in the reserve forest region: An environmental assessment.

This study examined microplastic distribution in Sandynulla Lake and Parsons Valley Lake in the Nilgiris District of India, identifying the types, concentrations, and morphological characteristics of particles present. The findings contribute baseline data on microplastic contamination in South Indian highland lake ecosystems.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau lakes, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in lakes across two major Chinese plateaus and found contamination even in these remote, high-altitude environments. Lakes near more human activity (Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau) had significantly higher microplastic levels than the more remote Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with sewage, agriculture, and fishing being the main sources. The study shows that microplastic pollution reaches even supposedly pristine environments, largely through human activity and atmospheric transport.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in high-altitude glacier lakes in Northern Anatolia

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in eight high-altitude glacier lakes in northeastern Turkey and found plastic particles in both surface water and sediments at every site. The most common polymer types identified were polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene, with concentrations varying significantly between lakes. The findings demonstrate that microplastic pollution has reached even remote mountain ecosystems far from major population centers.

2025 Environmental Sciences Europe 4 citations
Article Tier 2

High-mountain lakes as indicators of microplastic pollution: current and future perspectives

This review assessed microplastic pollution in high-mountain lakes, finding these remote ecosystems serve as valuable indicators of atmospheric microplastic transport and global contamination patterns despite limited research to date.

2022 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Waste in the Himalayan Range: Issues and Solutions

This review examines plastic waste and microplastic accumulation in Himalayan mountain ecosystems, including lakes, ponds, and wetlands, documenting the sources and deposition pathways of fine microplastic particles in one of the world's most remote mountain ranges.

2025 Himalayan Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics and phthalate esters from a freshwater lake system in Lesser Himalayas

Researchers investigated microplastics and phthalate ester contamination in freshwater lakes of the Lesser Himalayas in India, detecting MPs in all water and sediment samples at concentrations ranging from 2 to 64 particles per liter alongside co-occurring chemical plasticizers.

2022 7 citations
Article Tier 2

First assessment of occurrence, characteristics and human exposure of microplastics in bottled drinking water, Nepal

Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastics in bottled drinking water from Nepal's mountain, hill, and Terai regions, finding microplastics in all 35 samples tested (mean 118 items/L), with fiber-shaped particles dominating at 71.76%, establishing a baseline for this developing-country context.

2025 Cleaner Water